STAMDFORD BRIDGE SHOW Manchester United will be dangerous — Mikel

Nigeria international John Mikel Obi says only a comprehensive defeat of Manchester United in Sunday’s premier league tie will reduce the pain of defeat suffered by Chelsea at the hands of Shaktar Donetsk in the Champions league.

Shakhtar inflicted Chelsea’s first competitive defeat of the season on Tuesday, and Mikel is hoping Roberto Di Matteo’s men can work on their defensive solidity before they host United to prolong their unbeaten league run.

“When the first goal went in, it became very difficult,” Mikel told the The Daily Mirror.

“We started chasing the game and the game became very open. Then they had more space to play in and it became very difficult for us.

“We have to make sure we get back into training and try and correct the mistakes that happened in Donetsk and try to defend better together as a team.”

Mikel is all too aware of how Chelsea have struggled during the winter months in recent league campaigns, and is determined not to let the Shakhtar loss trigger a collapse.

“All of us know what has happened in recent seasons so we have to make sure that this defeat doesn’t make that happen again. We have to make sure we correct it very quickly and that starts with the next game against United,” he said.

“They will be very dangerous as usual and if we defend the way we did in Donetsk it’s going to be difficult for us. We have to defend as a unit, play together as a unit. As long as we do that on Sunday, we’ll have a very good chance.”